London got lucky when one of Paris' best pâtisseries opened up in Marylebone in February. La Pâtisserie Des Rêves translates into pastry shop of dreams which seems so true. I walked past this shop many times, been in there many times to admire the pastries but not once have I actually bought one and ate one until recently. Every time I wanted to try the pastry, a pure evilness always reminding me of oh how fat cakes are. Finally I ignored the pure evilness advice and indulged myself in cakes.

French classics such as mille-feuille, éclair, Paris-Brest, Gateaux St. Honore and to name a few were reinvented by the acclamied pâtissier Philippe Conticini and are protected under large glass globes. It's a small shop and it can get confusing on the method of ordering. Once you are ready you find a member of staff by the till who will take your order and have it prepared in the back while you pay.

I took home the strawberry tart, a pasrty filled with crème pâtissière and strawberries on top. The puff pastry was something different to the shortcrust pastry you normally find with fruit tart. The crunchy pastry, deep cream filling and luscious fruit with some aniseed on top (not too sure which aniseed it was, the taste was very familiar) was divine.

It's well worth the visit to Marylebone for the ultimate desserts heaven, pâtisserie at its best.